The Daily Money: Who loses if AT&T cuts landlines?
Good morning and Happy Friday! This is Betty Lin-Fisher with Friday's consumer-focused edition of The Daily Money.
Do you or someone you know still have traditional copper-line phone service with AT&T? Sometimes it's called "plain old telephone service," meaning, literally, just a dial tone with no bells and whistles.If so, you should know that AT&T plans to eliminate its traditional landline phone service across 20 of its 21 in its service areas by 2029, which could be a harbinger of things to come across the telecommunications industry.
The wireless carrier has said its copper-wire infrastructure is antiquated, maintaining it is costly and better service is available through fiber and wireless broadband networks.Who stands to lose? Find out more in my story about what this means for consumers and which states are affected.
The American dream is at risk
The American dream of buying a house – putting down roots, investing a little sweat equity and watching the nest egg steadily grow – is in peril, reports my colleague Andrea Riquier.
The U.S. housing market is so tight that 2023 home sales were the lowest in three decades. A decade of underbuilding after the subprime crisis, stringent local zoning laws and regulations, tariffs on building materials, and many other factors have taken a toll, shrinking buyers' options.
It’s not just housing for sale that’s struggling, either. Recent research confirms what many Americans have long felt: renting can be so expensive it makes saving for a downpayment and closing costs nearly impossible.
The housing crisis threatens the American dream. Here's Andrea's look at what's next?
📰 Consumer stories you shouldn't miss 📰
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- Do you text between Android and Apple phones? If so, you could be at risk of hacking.
- Don't hoard if you fear tariffs. Do this instead with your money.
- Dollar Tree may raise prices due to potential Trump tariffs.
- Here are easy ways to keep your real Christmas tree fresh.
📰 A great read 📰
As the new year nears, we are featuring our favorite 2024 stories from fellow Paste BN writers. Here's a great one from Bailey Schulz.
More adults are deciding not to have children. Why?
About The Daily Money
Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from Paste BN, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impact you.